Trump Discusses Crimea Return, Praises Zelensky's Flexibility and Respect Towards Putin on Fox News
In a significant gathering at the White House, President Donald Trump met with a group of international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting, which also included the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, was marked by a series of discussions focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, NATO, and Russia.
During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his stance on several key points. He assured that the U.S. will not deploy troops to defend Ukraine's border, emphasizing his intention to stop further loss of life in what he characterized as a "ridiculous war." Trump also stated that he facilitated a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, believing they could potentially improve relations. He suggested this meeting might precede a larger trilateral (Putin-Zelenskyy-Trump) discussion.
On the issue of Ukraine's NATO membership, Trump made it clear that it was off the table. Instead, European nations agreed to provide "NATO-like" security guarantees to Ukraine, coordinated with the U.S. Trump described the talks as a "very good, early step" toward peace.
Trump expressed optimism that both Putin and Zelenskyy want to end the war and make peace. He claimed Putin agreed to let the U.S. and European allies provide additional protection to Ukraine akin to NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause. Trump also highlighted that Ukraine is paying 100% for the military equipment supplied by the U.S. and NATO countries are funding much of it as well.
In a broader strategic context, Trump framed the conflict as part of a larger geopolitical contest against China. He argued that prolonged NATO escalation in Ukraine serves European interests but imposes costs on the U.S., and his approach aims at an "America-first" strategy.
The meeting concluded with a group photo, further underscoring the international cooperation and diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussions are expected to continue, with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoy Steve Witkoff continuing negotiations for follow-up steps.
[1] Fox News Interview Transcript: Donald Trump Discusses Ukraine, NATO, and Russia [2] White House Statement: Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Focuses on Peace Efforts and Security Guarantees [3] NATO Statement: Trump Outlines U.S. Position on Ukraine, NATO, and Russia [4] European Union Statement: Trump-Zelenskyy-Macron Meeting Discusses Ukraine, NATO, and Russia [5] Trump's America-First Strategy in the Context of Russia Outreach and the Ukraine Conflict
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